Im Ye-jin

Im Ye-jin (born Im Ki-hee on January 24, 1960) is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the original "Nation's Little Sister, Im debuted as a teenage actress taking on roles of the “pretty teenaged student” in several movies and TV series – helping her win the title of everyone’s favorite “dongseng (동생, younger sibling)” in her time.[1] She reached the peak of her popularity in the 1970s with the "Really Really" film trilogy, which includes Never Forget Me, I Am Really Sorry, and I Really Really Like You. She is currently active in television, due to her popularity, she also a subject of an urban legend that the song Imagine,by John Lennon is allegedly about her.

In this Korean name, the family name is Im.
Im Ye-jin
Im in 2019
Born
Im Ki-hee

(1960-01-24) January 24, 1960
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materDongguk University – Theater and Film
OccupationActress
Years active1974–present
Spouse
Choi Chang-wook
​
(m. 1989)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationIm Ye-jin
McCune–ReischauerIm Yejin
Birth name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationIm Gi-hui
McCune–ReischauerIm Kihŭi

Career

Im Ki-hee began modeling in popular teen magazines when she was in junior high school. Using the stage name Im Ye-jin, she made her acting debut in Kim Ki-young's Transgression in 1974.

In 1975, Im played a high schooler in love with her teacher in Graduating School Girls, for which she won Best New Actress at the Grand Bell Awards. But it was a year later when she would be catapulted to stardom. Im headlined Never Forget Me (also known as Really Really Don't Forget, 1976) and its sequels I Am Really Sorry (also known as I'm Really Really Sorry, 1976) and Crazy For You (also known as I Really Really Like You, 1977) -- movies about teenage friendship, romance, and aspirations that became massive box office hits, screening to sold-out theaters. In an era when Korean cinema was in a dark period resulting from severe censorship by an authoritarian government, this led to the emergence of the teenage demographic as a major consumer of pop culture. Im had an innocent, girlish image, whose acting was charming and sweet without being saccharine, and she became hugely popular among middle school and high school students; girls wanted to be like her, and boys had her picture in their pockets.[2] The "Really Really" series established Im as the most popular young actress of that period, and for the next several years, youth melodramas starring her dominated the theaters in quick succession, often with Lee Deok-hwa as her leading man: Prayer of a Girl (1976), Ever So Much Good! (1976), I Really Have a Dream (1976), I've Never Felt Like This Before (1976), and Nobody Knows (1977).

Im entered college in 1979, studying Theater and Film at Dongguk University. By this time, she wanted to transition out of teen movies, and into more adult roles. She starred opposite Shin Seong-il in Love Song in a Peanut Shell, but it was poorly received, with audiences not prepared to see her break out of her "pure" image. Despite a supporting role in A Fine, Windy Day, Im's film career was in a slump, so she shifted her focus to television and radio in the 1980s.

After a few years of forgettable television dramas, Im's career was revitalized by Kim Soo-hyun, one of the most famous TV writers in Korea. Among Kim's dramas that Im starred in were 사랑합시다 (1981), Yesterday and Tomorrow (1982), Love and Truth (1984), Love and Ambition (1987), Farewell (1994), and Childless Comfort (2012). In Farewell, she shocked audiences by playing a Fatal Attraction-esque villain for the first time. Im also played the character Dal-soo in a series of one-act dramas for MBC Best Theater from 1995 to 2005.

As Im grew older, she remained active on television and the occasional film, in supporting roles as ajummas, aunts or mothers. As if coming full circle, she played one of the adult characters in a 2010 musical theatre adaptation of her early hit I Really Really Like You.[3][4]

From 2008 to 2010, Im was a popular panelist on the variety show Quiz to Change the World, for which she was recognized at the MBC Entertainment Awards.

In 2014, Im signed with the talent agency YG Entertainment.[5] In December 2019, it was confirmed that her contract with YG Entertainment has expired and decided not to renew.[6]

Personal life

In 1989, Im married Choi Chang-wook, a TV director and producer at MBC.

Filmography

Film

Television series
  • Young Lady and Gentleman (KBS2, 2021)[10]
  • Lie After Lie (Channel A, 2020)
  • My Only One (KBS2, 2018)[11]
  • A Korean Odyssey (tvN / 2017-2018) - Bangmooljangsoo (peddler)
  • Hit the Top (KBS2, 2017)
  • The Liar and His Lover (tvN, 2017)
  • Yeah, That's How It Is (SBS, 2016)
  • Splash Splash Love (MBC, 2015)
  • The Producers (KBS2, 2015)
  • Rosy Lovers (MBC, 2014)
  • Marriage, Not Dating (tvN, 2014)
  • Can We Fall in Love, Again? (jTBC, 2014)
  • Miss Korea (MBC, 2013)
  • Princess Aurora (MBC, 2013)
  • 7th Grade Civil Servant (MBC, 2013)
  • My Kids Give Me a Headache (jTBC, 2012)
  • Immortal Classic (Channel A, 2012)
  • Iron Daughters-in-Law (MBC, 2011)
  • Romance Town (KBS2, 2011)
  • Sweet Palpitations (KBS2, 2011)
  • My Princess (MBC, 2011)
  • Smile, Mom (SBS, 2010)
  • You Don't Know Women (SBS, 2010)
  • Life Is Beautiful (SBS, 2010) (cameo)
  • Life Is Good (MBC, 2009)
  • Queen Seondeok (MBC, 2009)
  • The Road Home (KBS1, 2009)
  • Boys over Flowers (KBS2, 2009)
  • Little Mom Scandal 2 (CGV, 2008)
  • Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea (MBC, 2008)
  • Little Mom Scandal (CGV, 2008)
  • Winter Bird (MBC, 2007)
  • MBC Best Theater – "A Walk Around The Neighborhood" (MBC, 2006)
  • Which Star Are You From (MBC, 2006)
  • Princess Hours (MBC, 2006)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Caught in the Special Prostitution Law" (MBC, 2005)
  • Love and Sympathy (SBS, 2005)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Tutoring His Son" (MBC, 2004)
  • Ireland (MBC, 2004)
  • Full House (KBS2, 2004)
  • People of the Water Flower Village (MBC, 2004)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Do You Love Me?" (MBC, 2003)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Run, Manager Jang" (MBC, 2002)
  • Honest Living (SBS, 2002)
  • Affection (SBS, 2002)
  • Wonderful Days (SBS, 2001)
  • Blue Mist (KBS2, 2001)
  • LA Arirang (SBS, 2000)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su, Hit by a Boomerang" (MBC, 1999)
  • Crush (KBS2, 1998)
  • See and See Again (MBC, 1998)
  • To Love Is (EBS, 1998)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Alone Arirang" (MBC, 1997)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su Breaks the Filial Piety Law" (MBC, 1997)
  • OK Ranch (SBS, 1997)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Golden Garden" (MBC, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Tea" (MBC, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dalsu's Son Goes to School" (MBC, 1996)
  • Three Kingdoms (KBS2, 1996)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's House Building" (MBC, 1995)
  • MBC Best Theater – "Dal-su's Trial" (MBC, 1995)
  • Love and Marriage (MBC, 1995)
  • Partner (MBC, 1994-1997)
  • Farewell (SBS, 1994)
  • Mountain Wind (MBC, 1993)
  • Professor Oh's Family (SBS, 1993)
  • Mozart the Janitor (KBS1, 1992)
  • A Rainy Afternoon (KBS2, 1991)
  • Ancient Geum Jan-di (KBS1, 1991)
  • Freezing Point (KBS2, 1990)
  • Last Place Search Party (MBC, 1990)
  • Sunrise (KBS2, 1989)
  • Legacy (MBC, 1989)
  • Peers and Turi (MBC, 1988)
  • Love and Ambition (MBC, 1987)
  • First Love (MBC, 1986)
  • Love and Truth (MBC, 1984)
  • Sunflower in Winter (MBC, 1983)
  • Friend, My Friend (MBC, 1982)
  • Yesterday and Tomorrow (MBC, 1982)
  • Let's Love (MBC, 1981)
  • Han River (MBC, 1981)
  • Anguk-dong Madam (MBC, 1980)
  • White Dandelion (MBC, 1979)
  • Frugal Family (MBC, 1979)
  • X Search Party (MBC, 1978)
  • South Wind (MBC, 1978)
  • The Spring Maiden Has Come (MBC, 1977)
  • Third Class (MBC, 1977)
  • By Ear (MBC, 1975)
  • Jade Flute (TBC, 1975)

Variety show

Music video

Theater
  • I Really Really Like You (2010)

Radio program

Awards

References
  1. "Here Are 10 Korean Celebrities Who Have Been The "Nation's Little Sister"". koreaboo. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. Noh, Jae-hyun (12 January 2013). "Adult diapers are closer than you think". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  3. "2008.6.5 Event Calendar". Korea JoongAng Daily. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  4. Choi, Min-woo (20 December 2008). "High notes and discord in the musical world". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  5. "Actors Cha Seung Won, Jang Hyun Sung, & actress Lim Ye Jin along with management staff sign with YG Entertainment". Allkpop. January 19, 2014.
  6. "[단독] 임예진, YG엔터테인먼트와 재계약 않기로". iMBC 연예 (in Korean). 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  7. Giammarco, Tom (10 October 2009). "A Good Windy Day (1980)". Seen in Jeonju. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  8. Giammarco, Tom (19 September 2012). "Angry Young Men (1976)". Seen in Jeonju. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  9. Giammarco, Tom (13 December 2012). "Ever So Good (1976)". Seen in Jeonju. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  10. Kim Myung-mi (May 18, 2021). "신사와 아가씨' 김영옥 차화연→이종원 이일화, 베테랑 배우 총출동". Newsen (in Korean). naver. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  11. ""Only on My Side" Park Sang-won, Cha Hwa-yeon, Im Ye-jin, and Jin Kyung Join the Team". Hancinema. August 12, 2018.
  12. Han Eun-soo (February 19, 2017). '복면가왕' 줄리엣의 정체는 임예진…가사 실수에 깜놀 "4개월 연습했는데 죄송하다". E-Today (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  13. Kim, Hee-ju (7 July 2011). "T-ara holds Japan debut showcase". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  14. Ko, Kyoung-seok (30 December 2009). "Yoo Jae-seok wins grand prize at MBC Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
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